U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats and tariffs have breathed new life right into a superhero from the Nineteen Seventies: Captain Canuck, a authorities agent with superhuman power who defends Canada’s sovereignty.
“Unexpectedly, Canadians wish to Captain Canuck as an emblem. And it is mainly, to them, Captain Canuck symbolizes independence,” mentioned Richard Comely, 74, the artist who co-created the comedian e book character.
Captain Canuck, a.okay.a. Tom Evans, is a Mountie who gained his particular powers after an alien encounter. He wears a white and crimson outfit emblazoned with maple leaves.
Comely mentioned he created the character at a second when he thought Canadians needed their very own icon, provided that the US had Captain America.
“I believe there was an undercurrent, so to talk, in Canada within the ’70s. So I believe Canadians had been beginning to really feel like, you recognize, like they need to acknowledge the truth that we had our personal nation, and we had our personal tradition and be pleased with the truth that we had been Canadians,” Comely mentioned.
Comedian artist-writer Richard Comely remembers superhero’s origins
Because the first publication in 1975, there have been 4 million Captain Canuck-themed comedian books, books and graphic novels in print worldwide, in line with Comely.
Comely says his unique storyline envisioned Canada as a world energy that faces challenges from teams in search of to infiltrate, destabilize and take over the nation.
After all, by no means in any of these tales was it America that was going to be taking up Canada, Comely mentioned.
‘We have to face in opposition’
For the duvet of Captain Canuck‘s fiftieth anniversary problem, Comely depicted the superhero wagging his finger at Trump, who has mentioned he desires Canada to change into a U.S. state.
“It is bought a variety of Canadians, you recognize, excited about their identification as Canadians and feeling extra united as Canadians. We really feel like, OK, we have to face in opposition to those proposals,” he mentioned.
Co-creator of Captain Canuck, Richard Comely, recounts the second he drew up a brand new comedian e book cowl that exhibits his symbolic superhero standing as much as Donald Trump.
Captain Canuck and Comely have had an on-again, off-again relationship with the comedian e book world since their begin in 1975, falling silent when Comely stepped again to assist increase his massive household, with a quick return within the ’90s charting out a distinct storyline in Captain Canuck Reborn.
Since 2012, when Comely entered into an unique licensing settlement with Chapterhouse Comics, Captain Canuck has change into a mainstay within the comedian e book scene, expanding his reach with an animated internet collection and memorabilia.
Comely mentioned he has obtained extra calls from Canadian firms which have expressed eager curiosity within the fictional character because of the political tensions between the 2 neighbouring international locations.
“So in a way, we have now Mr. Trump to thank for a little bit of resurgence,” he mentioned.
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